Mixed fortunes for Colts

FIVE of Griffith's best cricketing prospects helped the Riverina representative side spring a massive upset win over perennial powerhouse Newcastle at the NSW Country Colts carnival over the weekend.

Leagues Club pair Connor Matheson and Alex McMaster, Coro's Alex Flood and Hanwood young guns Tom West and Tom Shannon were part of the team that rattled Newcastle for a surprise 51-run win on Friday in Coffs Harbour.

Matheson (33) and Shannon (25) were the two top-scorers for the match, while West and Flood both took wickets in what was Riverina's first and only win for the tournament.

Riverina was taught a "cricket lesson" on day two by eventual champions Central Northern, despite a 21 from Shannon, while Sunday's clash with Western went right down to the wire.

Needing 197 for victory, Riverina was reduced to 8-172 before the run chase was left to tail-enders West (14) and McMaster (13), who battled admirably but ran out of time.

Coach Steve Weckert said he was pleased with the output of the Griffith players.

"Tommy Shannon got us off to a good start on all three days. I rate him as an opener, I put him up there and he was quite happy to do it," he said.

"His role was to basically play the anchor role, because the other opener and the next four were all pretty big strokemakers. He did the job every time."

NSW Country representative Matheson was dismissed for no score on days two and three, succumbing to an unfortunate golden duck against Central Northern.

"His horror run with ducks continues I think he's got five in his last seven innings," Weckert said.

"He got an absolute peach of a ball, it just took the top off.

"It was a ripper of a ball, but we played in amongst showers for the first two days so it was tough batting conditions for them.

"Tommy West bowled good lines, he was pretty consistent, and Floody bowled really well for us on Sunday as opener."

All players bar Shannon will get another crack at selection for the under 19s Country Colts tournament next year.